Adjustable feed device for embossing tools



Dec. 2, 1969 c. BOTTAZZI 3,481,211

ADJUSTABLE FEED DEVICE FOR EMBOSSING TOOLS Filed Jan. 16, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 67/0VQW4/ 6o 7- G2 Dec. 2, 1969 G. BOTTAZZI 3,481,211

ADJUSTABLE FEED DEVICE FOR EMBOSSING TOOLS Filed Jan. 16, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent ADJUSTABLE FEED DEVICE FOR EMBOSSING TOOLS Giovanni Bottazzi, Via Ricciarelli 37, Milan, Italy Filed Jan. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 698,316 Claims priority, application Italy, I an. 17, 1967, 11,570/ 67 Int. Cl. F1611 27/02, 31/00 US. Cl. 74-142 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a device capable of varying the forwarding motion of the deformable band for embossing tools or machines.

Embossing tools have the purpose to print or stamp characters onto or into a accordingly deformable band in order to compose phrases or groups of numbers, whereby embossing of each one character takes place by means of an embossing disc (or other system capable to reach the same result on said band), and comprising male and female matrices, which are diametrally disposed and are pressed together by means of an appropriate mechanism moved by two opposed handles in the machine or the like.

The knOWn machines are provided with means, whereby, after every printing operation, the band is forwarded a predetermined distance.

There is further known an embossing tool in which the embossing disc is interchangeable so as to permit stamping of several kinds of characters, especially characters of different size. The change of size creates the problem of proper distancing successive characters from each other.

This problem has been solved till up to now only in part, inasmuch as there were used means to change the step of forwarding only for two sizes of characters.

This solution was obtained by two toothed wheels, near one another, located on the same side of the forwarding roller and composing a unity body with the shaft of said roller, said gearings has to be displaced in axial direction in order to engage through a sole lever means which operates onto the teeth of either one or the other said toothed wheels. Of course this solution does not fully solve the problem inasmuch as it is limited to only two different forwarding movements of the band.

This invention has the purpose to ensure a variation of the forwarding steps of the band to be relief printed, and at the same time a great variation in the length of the forwarding motion of the band, and all this without any necessity to increase essentially the size of the embossing machine.

In accordance with this invention, the device for the variation of the forwarding step of the band to be relief printed is distinguished by the fact of showing on both sides of the forwarding roller ratchet wheels, which are loosely supported on the supporting shaft of said roller, each one of said ratchet wheels cooperating with an appropriate lever means, and means to select one of the ratchet wheels in order to connect it to said roller with the purpose to impart to the latter predetermined displacements according to the selected ratchet wheel, Without ICC the necessity to axially displace said roller and said ratchet wheels.

Preferably, the shaft whereon said roller and said ratchet wheels are supported is provided with means for selecting and at the same time engaging a selected one of the said ratchet wheels, so as to rotate it rigidly together with the forwarding roller.

Of course, the variation in the number of teeth of said ratchet wheels, as a selected one of them is connected to the forwarding roller, will cause a different angular distance between the teeth and consequently a different angular rotation of the roller, and a different forwarding movement of the band to be relief printed, thus obtaining the step variation.

Each ratchet wheel, besides of being provided with a corresponding pawl, which promotes the rotation step by step, or of a certain number of teeth at the same time, is provided with positioning means operating so as to brake said ratchet wheels after every angular displacement has taken place, in particular to impede undue displacements of the band.

The invention will be best understood from the following specification when read in connection with the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross section at a very enlarged scale of the device of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the forwarding roller for the band coupled with the pressing roller;

FIGURE 3 shows a first form of execution of one the lever means composing the device at a scale which is further enlarged;

FIGURE 4 shows a second such realisation also at an enlarged scale; and

FIGURE 5 shows in cross section an embossing machine for relief printing bands, and comprising the device of this invention.

FIGURES 1 and 2, show a deformable band 1 for embossing machines which coming from a roll 2 is pressed between an advancing roller 3 and a pressing roller 4. The advancing roller is provided with a rim 5 of elastic material, f.i. rubber, to exert a sufficient friction onto band 1.

Band 1 is advanced in by successive steps, the length of which depends on the external diameter of said rim 5 and on the angular rotation of roller 3.

The device of the invention has the purpose to change the angular rotation of roller 3 so to vary the forwarding steps of the band.

To this end roller 3 is provided at its central portion with a grooved bore and is supported on a shaft 7, the diameter of which is slightly smaller than the external dismeter of the bore grooves.

At both sides of roller 3, there are placed ratchet wheels 8, 9, 10, which are loosely supported on shaft 7, and each provided with a grooved central bore. Roller 3 and wheels 8, 9, 10 are held near one another by means of two opposing flanks 11, 12, which may be f.i. the parallel walls of one of the operating handles of an embossing machine.

Shaft 7 is journaled on two supporting means 13, 14, respectively, projecting from the flank portions 11, 12, respectively, and extending through holes provided in said flank portions.

The end portion of shaft 7, which projects into the support 13, is forked at 15 thus showing two diametrically opposite resilient arms having radially projecting ends 16 and 17 adapted to be introduced into annular grooves 18, 19 and 20 formed in the interior of the supporting means 13 and conveniently distanced from each other. There is thus the possibility by axially displacing the shaft 7, to bring both projecting portions 16 and 17 into engagement with the successive grooves 18, 19 and 20 in order to change the axial positions of said shaft. Grooves 18, 19 and 20, due to their annular shape, permit the shaft to be rotated about its own axis, when the end portions 16 and 17 are inserted in any of the grooves.

The shaft displacement of the axle 7 is made by action onto a cap 21 surrounding the support 14 and connected to the end 22 of shaft 7 by means of a pin 23.

Shaft is provided with two splined portions 24 and 25 of increased diameter engageable with the grooves of roller bores 3 and of the ratchet wheel 8, 9 and 10. The distance of said splined portions is such that, in the several axial positions taken by the shaft and imposed by grooves 18, 19 and 20, a splined portion engages one ratchet wheel while the other engages the roller. In this way, in the position of FIGURE 1, the splined portion 24 engages the ratchet Wheel 8, while the splined portion 25 engages the roller 3 on displacing the shaft 7 to the right and on locking it in the positions, wherein the projections 16 and 17 enter groove 19, the splined portion 24 will engage roller 3, while the splined portion 25 will in turn engage the ratchet wheel 9. Upon further displacing of the shaft to the right, to the position imposed by groove 20, the splined portion 24 still engages roller 3, while the splined portion 25 engages the ratchet wheel 10.-There is thus explained how, by only displacing the shaft to its several acting positions, it will be possible to engage a respective ratchet wheel together with said roller 3, thus creating engagements for each one of them and the roller, so that each one engaged ratchet wheel will be in condition to put into rotation roller 3 by means of shaft 7.

In the example of FIGURE 3, each one of the ratchet wheels 8, 9 and is composed of an external crown showing saw like teeth 26, with which a pawl 27 engages, operated f.i. by the machine handle opposed to that one supporting the device of FIGURE 1. In this way, by operating the embossing machine after any stamping step on the band, the distance obtained between the machine handles provides so that the pawl 27 is moved, thus rotating the respective ratchet wheel for a step corresponding to an angle equal to that formed between two successive teeth. Of course, during the action of the machine all Wheels 8, 9, 10 will be rotated clue to the action of the respective pawls, but all said wheels will rotate, with the particularity that the transmission of force to roller 3 will be imparted only from that ratchet wheel which at that time will be engaged, by one of the splined portions 24 or 25.

In order that each ratchet wheel maintains its stable position after every rotational step, there is provided a second crown 28 provided with a member of corrugated teeth which is equal to the number of teeth in the first crown.

A conveniently shaped end portion of a spring 29 impedes whatever not required displacement of the corresponding wheel of the embossing machine, resiliently engages into a depression between two teeth of said crown to thus impede undesired displacement of the wheel.

In the example of FIGURE 4, spring 29 directly operates onto the teeth of the ratchet wheel; thus eliminating the crown 28 and providing for ratchet wheels of small width which is advantageous particularly in those cases wherein the number of said wheels is relatively high.

Of course, the hereinabove described device may be realized in different ways of for instance, roller 3 may be keyed rigidly on shaft 7, by means of a proper key, while the ratchet wheels may be provided with cylindrical bores with a single groove, and individually keyed on said shaft, by means of one or more keyes which are displaceable along said shaft. Furthermore the longitudinal positioning of shaft 7, instead by means of projections 16 and 17, may be obtained by means of a crown of projecting balls, which elastically enter again into their seating and couple in turn with the grooves 18, 19 and On the other hand, resilient arms may be provided on the support 13, while the grooves 18, 19 and 20 may be cut in the shaft itself. Braking of the toothed wheels may also be obtained, instead by means of a spring 29, also by a friction on adjacent faces between the wheels themselves or between the wheels and the roller.

In FIGURE 5 there is shown an embossing machine together with the forwarding device as per this invention.

This machine comprises a hollow body 30, the side walls of which are constituted by the side walls 11 and 12 of FIGURE 1. Underneath said body 30 an operating lever 31 is to be displaced, the same being articulated around a pivot 32 provided at the front end of body 30.

The upper part of the body 30* is closed by a lever 33 articulated around 34 and so shaped so as to constitute an upper, tiltable wall.

Lever 33 supports the pressing roller 4 of the forwarding device, while the latter is enclosed between the side walls of body 30, and while members 13 and 21 project outwards walls 11 and 12.

Lever 33, when lowered, moves the roller 4 toward the forwarding roller, while pawls 27 are supported by the lower lever 31. Said pawls are articulated around a pivot 35 and are pressed against the respective teeth 26 by means of springs 36. A stop 37 limits the position of pawls 27 with respect of the teeth 26, such that the same can engage each time one tooth or a determined number of teeth.

Lever 33, besides of supporting the pressing roller 4, permits, when filled to an open position, the introduction into the body 30 of a roller band to be embossed in relief, and furthermore to liberate the disc 39' hearing the characters in relief for the band, in order to have the possibility to easily replace said disc when other characters have to be embossed on a band.

The lower lever 31 supports at its front part a pressing member 40, the purpose of which is to press down both parts of the disc to impress, and a second pressing member 41 acting onto the severing members 42 and 43 known per se.

Of course other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an embossing tool, an adjustatble feed mechanism for feeding a band to be embossed a predetermined adjustable distance after each actuation of the tool, said adjustable feed mechanism comprising support means; a shaft turnably mounted in said support means; a feed roller and a plurality of ratchet wheels having each a different number of teeth coaxially mounted on said shaft with said ratchet wheels freely turnable with respect to said feed roller; means cooperating with said feed roller and said ratchet wheels and preventing shifting of said roller and wheels in axial direction relative to said support means; a pawl for each ratchet wheel and cooperating with the teeth of the respective ratchet wheel to turn the latter through a predetermined angle upon actuation of the pawl; actuating means connected to the pawls for simultaneously actuating all of the same; connecting means movable between a plurality of positions for connecting in each of said positions a different one of said plurality of ratchet wheels with said feed roller for simultaneous rotation; and means for releasably locking said connecting means in each of said positions thereof.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said feed mechanism includes at least three ratchet wheels.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said ratchet wheels are arranged to opposite sides of said feed roller.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprise axially shiftable means.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said shaft is shiftable in axial direction between a plurality of positions, and wherein said connecting means comprise a pair of axially spaced splined portions integral with said shaft and axially extending grooves in said feed roller and said ratchet wheels arranged to cooperate with said splined shaft portions in such a manner that in each of said positions of said shaft one of said splined portions is engaged in the grooves of said feed roller and the other in the grooves of a difierent ratchet wheel.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said support means comprise a pair of bearings and wherein said releasable locking means comprise cooperating male and female means respectively provided at one of the shaft end portions and in that hearing in which said one end portion is journalled, one of said cooperating means being resilient.

7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said one shaft end portion is forked so as to provide a pair of resilient arms having radially outwardly extending projections constituting said male means and wherein said one bearing is formed in the interior thereof with a plurality of annular axially spaced grooves equal in number to the number of ratchet wheels and constituting said female means.

8. A structure .as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for preventing shifting of said feed roller and said ratchet wheels in axial direction comprise a pair of Walls connected in spaced relationship to each other and being formed with aligned openings in which said bearings are respectively mounted.

9. A structure as defined in claim 6 and including an operating portion fixed to the other end portion of aid shaft and projecting outwardly beyond the other bearing.

10. A structure as defined in claim 1, and including means for releasably holding each of said ratchet Wheels in each of its turned positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,328,097 8/1943 Reid 197-84.3 416,744 12/1889 Redfield 197--6.3 977,237 11/1910 Swindler 1976.1

3,263,790 8/1966 Bremer et a1. 197-6.7

3,366,212 1/1968 McInnis 197-6.7

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner W. S. RATLIFF, 111., Assistant Eaxminer US. Cl. X.R. 1976.7 

